Tire pressure monitoring system with permanent tire identification
First Claim
1. A pressure monitoring system for a plurality of tires installed on wheels of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle being potentially assembled from component sections including tractor and trailers, the pressure management system comprising:
- a radio frequency identification tags installed on each of the plurality tires and identifying particular tires with a code, specific to that tire;
a plurality of pressure sensors with radio transmitters mounted in communication with valve stems on the wheels, the radio transmitters providing for relay of the codes for the tires mounted on the wheels and for transmission of pressure measurements;
a radio repeater installed on a trailer having a communication link with at least a first of the pressure sensors with radio transmitters;
a tire pressure management system receiver installed on the tractor having a controller area network interface and further capable of establishing a radio link with the pressure sensors directly or through the radio repeater;
a controller area network coupled to the tire pressure management receiver; and
a body computer connected to the controller area network for exchanging data with the tire pressure management system receiver and for execution of software modules implementing the tire pressure management system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire pressure management system for a tractor/trailer system uses exterior sidewall mounted tire RFID tags, valve mounted tire pressure sensors and transmitters, radio repeaters, a tire pressure management system receiver with controller area network interface, a body computer for execution of software modules of the system and a controller area network for carrying data between the body computer and tire pressure management system receiver. The system provides varying functionality depending upon which elements are present. To deal with absence of a tractor, variation in the complimentary TPMS components installed on the tractor, or lack of any complimentary TPMS components installed on the tractor a trailer mounted repeater includes sufficient local processing power and display capability to alert users of any tire pressure problem on the trailer.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A pressure monitoring system for a plurality of tires installed on wheels of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle being potentially assembled from component sections including tractor and trailers, the pressure management system comprising:
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a radio frequency identification tags installed on each of the plurality tires and identifying particular tires with a code, specific to that tire;
a plurality of pressure sensors with radio transmitters mounted in communication with valve stems on the wheels, the radio transmitters providing for relay of the codes for the tires mounted on the wheels and for transmission of pressure measurements;
a radio repeater installed on a trailer having a communication link with at least a first of the pressure sensors with radio transmitters;
a tire pressure management system receiver installed on the tractor having a controller area network interface and further capable of establishing a radio link with the pressure sensors directly or through the radio repeater;
a controller area network coupled to the tire pressure management receiver; and
a body computer connected to the controller area network for exchanging data with the tire pressure management system receiver and for execution of software modules implementing the tire pressure management system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A pressure management system for tires installed on vehicle wheels, the pressure management system comprising:
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pressure sensors mounted with respect to the vehicle wheels for taking pressure readings for the tires installed thereon, the pressure sensors including wireless communication facilities for transmitting tire pressure readings and identification of the tire to which each pressure reading relates;
a repeater including wireless communication facilities for establishing two way communication with at least a first of the pressure sensors for receiving the pressure readings taken by said at least first of the pressure sensors and further including local data processing capability for comparing the pressure readings against predetermined norms and generating an energization signal in response to the pressure readings falling outside of limits fixed by the predetermined norms; and
a fault marker activated in response to the energization signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A tractor/trailer system providing tire pressure management for a plurality of tires installed on vehicle wheels, the tractor/trailer system comprising exterior sidewall mounted tire RFID tags, valve mounted tire pressure sensors and transmitters, radio repeaters, a tire pressure management system receiver with controller area network interface, a body computer for execution of software modules of the system and a controller area network for carrying data between the body computer and tire pressure management system receiver, tire pressure management software modules executed on the body computer providing varying functionality in response to the presence or absence of specific elements of the system including at least tire pressure warnings identified as to location on the tractor/trailer system.
Specification